Baang Cafe & Bar in Riverside, one of Greenwich's pioneers of Asian-fusion cuisine, has closed its doors, going out not with a bang, so to speak, but a whimper.

De Caro Restaurant Group, which owns Baang and its sister restaurant, Splash, on the waterfront in Westport, confirmed Friday the restaurant has closed. Group President Brian De Caro, however, is out of town and could not be reached for comment.

Since opening in 1995, Baang helped pioneer the Asian-fusion food trend in Greenwich. The restaurant won rave reviews from the New York Times, Connecticut Magazine and other publications, becoming a destination for Fairfield County foodies.

"When this knockout looking cafe opened two years ago in Riverside, it introduced Western-Asian fusion cooking to Fairfield County," wrote New York Times food critic Patricia Brooks in 1997. "Fortunately, Baang is going strong, the food still excellent. Virtually everything is a delight -- provided the diner is open-minded about sometimes startling combinations."

Baang was the first of De Caro Restaurant Group's restaurants, and quickly made a name for itself among tri-state diners looking for inventive food and drinks at a reasonable price in a swanky, stylish atmosphere. As the restaurant settled into its Riverside location, foodies took to the Internet to praise the decor, its energy and the flavor of its Chinese- and Thai-accented dishes.

"I love food there," wrote Google reviewer Betty Gao in November 2012. "I ordered the pai tai noodles, tuna sliders, and the calamari salad. All were delicious. For the price, the food is very good. It is hard to find a restaurant that is good and reasonably price(sic) in the Greenwich area."

During its run, Baang earned numerous plaudits from local media, recognizing it as a unique addition to Greenwich's food and drink scene. Moffley Media publications Stamford and Greenwich magazines voted the restaurant "Best Pacific Rim" eatery three years in a row in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and "Best French/Asian" in 2008, as well as "Liveliest Dinner Scene" in 2007.

In the midst of Baang's success in the mid-2000s, diners lamented the restaurant had become almost too popular.

"EVEN WITH RESERVATIONS BE PREPARED TO WAIT AN ETERNITY FOR A TABLE," wrote Harry Moskowitz in a 2005 Google review. "THIS IS A PLACE TO BE SEEN ON THE WEEKENDS."

For a time, De Caro Restaurant Group opened a second Baang location in Woodbury Commons in Long Island, N.Y., but the venture closed in 2009.

Even as business waned, enthusiasm for Baang's dishes and style remained high among visitors.

"Place is super!" said Yelp user Elina B, who listed her location as Stamford, in June of this year. "Great food and atmosphere. I recommend Baang roll and Sauteed Chilean Sea Bass. If special short ribs on the menu, get it!"